Nowadays, there may be a perception that to consider a vehicle as ecological it must integrate a zero-emission propulsion system. But the truth is that a truly environmentally friendly car should go even further and incorporate as many natural and sustainable materials as possible.
The Aston Martin DB6 that stars in this article is striking proof of this. Those who are up to date with the range of models of the British firm will know that the DB6 has been out of production for many years, but this does not prevent it from continuing to be current thanks to new features such as those received by the unit that you can see in the Photographs.
Aston Martin originally manufactured this model between 1965 and 1970, during which time fewer than 1,800 units left the assembly line. They were all powered by a 4.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, but British company Lunaz has felt it could update and improve the car by making it a zero-emissions alternative.
This company is one of the most important in the electric vehicle conversion scene and focuses mainly on British brands such as the aforementioned Aston Martin as well as Bentley, Range Rover, Rolls-Royce and Jaguar. A little over two months ago, at Moveo we echoed another of its striking electric conversions, such as the 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II that was once owned by the famous actress Sofía Loren.
Lunaz manufactures its own electric propulsion systems. In the case of this DB6, a system with a power equivalent to 370 HP has been installed. The capacity of the batteries that power it has not been detailed but, to give us an idea, it is worth noting that the firm has on other occasions used packages with a capacity ranging from 80 to 120 kWh and that can reach up to 410 km of autonomy.
Up to this point, it could be considered that we are facing a “conventional” electrical conversion but this time, Lunaz wanted to go one step further. And it has been done by restoring the car with ecological materials never before seen in a street car. For example, to restore the marble-like surface of the dashboard as well as the gear lever handle, a compound made from egg and walnut shells has been used.
On the other hand, instead of using petroleum-based plastics, Lunaz has used corn and wood fibers in various parts of the car's interior. Meanwhile, real leather has been replaced by a material made from byproducts generated by apple cider production. This can be seen both in the seats and inside the doors.
Other materials such as recycled cotton, wool and nylon, all free of permanent chemicals, are also present in the process. For now, the firm has worked on a single DB6 unit as a demonstration but there is no doubt that, in the near future, all these materials will be able to be integrated into larger series of vehicles. You can learn more about this sustainable Aston Martin in the video that accompanies this article.
